Aakash Chopra has applauded young batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad after his stunning century for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) against the Rajasthan Royals (RR). He also said that the youngster will be a great asset for Team India in the future.
However, Gaikwad smashed an unbeaten 101 off 60 deliveries. But his knock went in vain as the Sanju Samson-led side chased down the 190-run target to register their fifth win of the Indian Premier League 2021. While reflecting on Ruturaj Gaikwad’s knock on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said he has a bright future.
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He elaborated: “The Indian Premier League provides a stage for talent. Ruturaj Gaikwad is CSK’s today and there is no doubt that he will become Team India’s tomorrow because this guy has special qualities. He is absolutely sensational, I want to see him playing for India. It’s really sad that the team could not win despite his century but he started with a four – straight drive and finished with a 107m six. I mean you couldn’t have asked anything more from Ruturaj, he has done everything.”
However, Ruturaj Gaikwad has played a couple of T20Is for India so far during their limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka. And, Aakash Chopra referred to his knock as one of the best in IPL 2021. His century was also included nine fours and five sixes and he reached the feat with a six off the last ball of the CSK innings as well.
He explained: “The knock Ruturaj played, we saw Devdutt Padikaal and Buttler’s hundreds but this century was of a different class altogether. He had scored 22-23 runs in the first 25 balls, he was going at a strike rate of 96 but after that the way he demolished the opposition.”
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“There are so many things about him that I like a lot. The way he plays, he first chooses where to hit a six, plays with a straight bat. He hits sixes and fours but if the ball cannot be hit for a four, he quietly takes a single to go to the other end. His skills are absolutely astonishingly wonderful and his temperament is top class along with it,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
